UPDATE: The NEJM has removed the survey results from their website and is directing those interested in the survey to The Medicus Firm who conducted the survey. The NEJM states that the survey was published in a free newsletter called Recruiting Physicians Today and does not represent the opinions of the NEJM. Interestingly, the survey results from the new link don’t quite what was published on the NEJM website originally. For example, the NEJM website stated 46.3 percent of primary care physicians felt they would be forced out, or would want to leave medicine if the legislation was passed. However, the Medicus Firm site doesn’t mention primary care physicians and instead refers to physicians in a more general context.

In a physician survey conducted December 2009 by The Medicus Firm, a national physician search firm, 24.7% of physicians stated that they would “retire early” if a public option is implemented, and an additional 21.0% of respondents stated that they would quit practicing medicine, even though they are nowhere near retirement. This brings the amount of physicians who would leave medicine to a total of 45.7%.

In addition, the figures on physicians recommending medicine as a career are no where to be found on the link provide by the NEJM.

Take it for what you will, but it clearly isn’t as reputable as the New England Journal of Medicine conducting the survey. However, it does seem odd that the NEJM is directing people to survey results that don’t match what they originally published on their career center website.

Here is our original post:

The Democrat’s health care plan has been unpopular since the public took to the town hall meetings during the August Congressional recess last year, but how do doctors feel? According a New England Journal of Medicine survey, 46.3 percent of primary care physicians say they will be forced out, or will want to leave their profession if Obamacare passes.

• 46.3% of primary care physicians (family medicine and internal medicine) feel that the passing of health reform will either force them out of medicine or make them want to leave medicine.

That number is simply stunning. Almost half of primary care physicians feel that they may be forced to leave their profession if the Democrat plan passes. What is that expected to do to the quality of medical care; especially if 30 million more people are added to the already troubled system?

Even more troubling is the number of physicians that would recommend going into medicine.

• 36% of physicians would not recommend medicine as a career, regardless of health reform.
• 27% would recommend medicine as a career but not if health reform passes.

How are we expected to maintain the quality of our health care system if 63 percent of physicians wouldn’t recommend medicine as a profession if this legislation becomes law?

It’s not to say that reform isn’t needed. According to this survey, nearly two-thirds of physicians agree that reform is necessary, but clearly the Democrats plan isn’t the right approach.

The O’reilly Factor covered the survey last night:

Tags: Health Care